Back surgery experience

[Gobbler36]

Get a reverse hyper machine and do extensive PT before surgery along with a decompression table

 

[KenLee]

Do you have significant issues with a leg or both legs?
Do your radicular symptoms into the leg match up to the dermatome pattern for the disc the surgeon wants to replace?
If the answer to either question is "no", I'd skip the surgery.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Where backs are concerned, always make surgery your last option, and always get multiple opinions. Take what guys here say as possible options, not, as, this is what you must do. Dr. Google is not the answer for any surgery, leave alone your back.

 

[Yoder]

Have you tried any of the steroid spinal injections? My wife and I have both done them a few times and it really helped with the pain. I had it done twice. First time there was no difference. Second one helped quite a bit. Between that, going to the gym regularly and stretching my upper back is almost pain free.

I listened to the book Comfort crisis a few months ago and the author mentioned back surgeries in general. I can't remember the exact statistics but people who had surgery were way more likely to have pain than people who did not. What is crazy is the surgeons. Mine basically did the same thing yours did. "I can do surgery if you want". What the hell is that? No real advice.

 

[TravKatQ]

A lot of good information on this thread and glad I found it as I’m actually going through a possible herniated disc in my lower back right now. Currently laid up in bed and going on week 2 off of work and still in pain. Had X-rays done and a couple DR visits. Still waiting on MRI to confirm and see what’s actually going on but everything is pointing towards herniated disc. Can’t stand for more then a few minutes or my right side, lower leg and foot will be in so much pain I have to drop to my knees to relieve the pain.
I’m 32 years old and kind of nervous how this will impact the rest of my life as I work in the oil fields and guide on the side and not being able to continue to do what I love and make money at scares the shit out of me!


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[KenLee]

A lot of good information on this thread and glad I found it as I’m actually going through a possible herniated disc in my lower back right now. Currently laid up in bed and going on week 2 off of work and still in pain. Had X-rays done and a couple DR visits. Still waiting on MRI to confirm and see what’s actually going on but everything is pointing towards herniated disc. Can’t stand for more then a few minutes or my right side, lower leg and foot will be in so much pain I have to drop to my knees to relieve the pain.
I’m 32 years old and kind of nervous how this will impact the rest of my life as I work in the oil fields and guide on the side and not being able to continue to do what I love and make money at scares the shit out of me!


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If a prone MRI doesn't show a problem, insist on a standing MRI. Sometimes there's a difference in what is revealed.

 

[TravKatQ]

If a prone MRI doesn't show a problem, insist on a standing MRI. Sometimes there's a difference in what is revealed.

Will do thanks!


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[Southern Heritage]

Man I’m in the same boat. People think I’m lying when I tell them all the garbage wrong with back. I have 3 herniated disc one in my neck c7 the two in my back L4 and L5. The doctors say i have degenerative disc disease. I broke L5 playing football 20 years ago. Went to a Chiropractor he popped me and broke L5 clean September of 22. I thought it was just really flared up. Went in for imagining in January. Then on Martin Luther king day I got in accident and more or Less shattered the lamiea bone and facet joint. Surgeon says I have to get bones removed then s1 bolted to l4. However even he said as long as the bones aren’t moving and If I can live with the pain hold out.
Things to try
steroid shots
ablation ( I did a test ablation and it didn’t work but talked with many who got years)
physical therapy
Weight loss
core exercise.
The only reason I haven't had surgery is because of this things.

Now the latest crazy thing I’ve done that the doctor said try was the carnivore diet. Now minus the unbelievably terrible bowl movements the first week. I feel way better. All my upper back pain is gone the pain running down my arm is gone. The pain down my legs when standing is gone.
My only current issues is sleeping, sitting, and lifting. so by no means I’m perfect and yes I’m kinda just surviving currently but its better then I was when I couldn’t get out of bed.


I say all this to say you should be able to over come degenerate disc. Even if it means thinking outside the box.
cold plunge, diet, saunas

 

[Coopsdaddy]

What reason did he give you for the Carnivore diet?

 

[Southern Heritage]

Inflammation.
I was taking muscle relaxers regularly . I now only take one at night occasionally.

 

[dodido]

I've had issue with my lower lumbar discs (bulged/herniated) over the past 6-8 years. Pretty chronic pain, nothing helps.

Went to a back pain doctor here in Canada who uses localized botox injections to relax the muscles around the discs and this is supposed to alleviate pain. I am planning on giving this a try in a few weeks.

He also recommended an inversion table. I have been using it for a few weeks (3-4x a day, 5minutes a session) and I can say it has made a huge difference.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

My lower back is almost out most mornings,after i get going im good.Im not sure if it’s because i sleep on my side or maybe my mattress,its new and firm.

 

[ThorM465]

I've had issue with my lower lumbar discs (bulged/herniated) over the past 6-8 years. Pretty chronic pain, nothing helps.

Went to a back pain doctor here in Canada who uses localized botox injections to relax the muscles around the discs and this is supposed to alleviate pain. I am planning on giving this a try in a few weeks.

He also recommended an inversion table. I have been using it for a few weeks (3-4x a day, 5minutes a session) and I can say it has made a huge difference.

Sounds like a quack man. Your core muscles are responsible for holding your vertebrae in its nominal position. It's only when your muscles are unable to do their job that you'll put enough pressure on a disc to bulge it or wear it down. The last thing I'd want is for my muscles to be taken out of the fight. Temporally to relieve pressure while I rest and the the inflamed/irritate nerve heals sure, but not for long term. Just my opinion FWIW after dealing with and studying this for over a decade.

Thank God for American healthcare.

 

[Banded_spooney]

I’ve had two partial discectomies (sp???) after a football injury.

One was at 18 and another at 23. Im 36 now. I can’t golf or bowl (the twisting gets me) but I can still hunt/pack meat and pound fence posts. Generally not slowed down during the activity but after I sit down to relax then try to get up again in pretty lame for the rest of the day. 9/10 I’m fine the next morning it’s 3 advil.

I never got into pain killers but having some muscle relaxers around for extreme cases before bed is nice.

There is a great thread that’s a few years old on this topic, I suggest you read it. I’ve never explored a disc replacement but I’d look hard that route before a fusion. I SHOULD have been fused at 23 but that’s significantly more life changing and I wasn’t ready to make that commitment.

I have permanent nerve damage in my left calf from delaying the first surgery until the week after Highschool graduation. It’s not bad but don’t wait so long it happens to you.

Happy to discuss further via txt or pm.

 

[skywalkr]

Hey all
I have been dealing with back issues since I was a teen. I am now 36 years old and live an active lifestyle along with working in construction.
I have usually got by with chiropractic adjustment, muscle relaxers and rest.

The last two years it has got progressively worse. The type of pain and location has changed and has started to affect daily living. So I decided it was time to dig in and figure out what the problem actually is. A pile of X-rays and an MRI later, I was told by a specialist that I have some disc degeneration in my low back. My spine is otherwise healthy but the one disk seems to be dry and that’s probably the source of the problem. He recommended a disc replacement. They have a very high success rate with them but it is a fairly new process to use them in the low back. After my consult with the surgeon this week he basically said he will replace the disc if I want. Now I understand this is ultimately my decision but I expected a bit more advise. He is the professional here. I desperately need relief but also understand we are talking about cutting on my spine. Does anybody have a artificial disc in their low back ? If so how do you like it ? Now I am not talking about fusion but a disc replacement. Also has anybody done stem cell therapy ? Seems to be a lot of promising research in that area too.

Surgeons are going to want to operate to fix issues but once you get cut on you can't go back and do it over again. Imaging might show something that is causing you pain but it could also be showing you something that is completely unrelated to the pain you are feeling. For example, there have been studies done where people who have no symptoms have imaging done and it will show things like bulging/herniated discs but the person is none the wiser and the issue will likely resolve on its own.

Personally, I would seek out a physical therapist and take a conservative approach first, if that doesn't work you can always go get surgery later. I have used a group called Barbell Medicine on multiple occasions. They have a pain and rehab team that consists of PTs that are very evidence based (and some of the best in the business IMO) and they also have two MDs on staff as well. You can do a virtual consultation with them for $250 (it's on their website under Coaching -> Injury & Rehab) and I think it is a great value. I have done just a consult before and they really helped me understand the pain I was having and gave me a plan to fix it. Currently, I was dealing with multiple issues so I signed up for their coaching as well and it has been very helpful. The coaching aspect assumes you do some weight training, if you don't then you'll likely be prescribed some strength training exercises at a minimum.

You certainly don't have to use that group, there are many great physical therapists and you can probably find one through a sports medicine doctor if you tell him/her you want to try conservative treatment first. Personally, I have had mediocre experiences with the few in person physical therapists I have used and great experience with the Barbell Medicine ones so that's the direction I would go in, but that's just me.

 

[zeroed]

Another vote for surgery as a last resort. I’ve had low back problems for years. Pretty sure I either ruptured or slipped a disc moving a heavy piece of furniture. Whenever I start working out seriously (but carefully) it improves.

 

[ThorM465]

For example, there have been studies done where people who have no symptoms have imaging done and it will show things like bulging/herniated discs but the person is none the wiser and the issue will likely resolve on its own.

That's because it's not the disk itself that causes the pain. It's when it presses on a nerve or the lack of a disc causes sciatic nerve irritation or damage. You can have a bulge that never touches a nerve. Welcome to 2023 where there's always a study to support anything you want to believe. FWIW, most of your advice is good and I'm interested in looking into barbell medicine. However, the fear mongering over surgery by not just you but others is abridge to far.

Surgery shouldn't be your first or your second option. It also should not be a last resort either. Try the noninvasive, conservative approach first if you're able to. However, if you still have significant sciatic nerve pain that prevents an active lifestyle go have a serious conversation with a surgeon and weigh your options.

I've said it once, but I'll say it again. I'm glad I pushed off a disc replacement as long I could. However, I wish I had done the discectomy immediately. I lost the latter half of my 20s because I put it off for years listing to the "last resort" advice.

 

[zeroed]

I understand you’ve had a rough time with this problem, but if a patient is at risk of a permanent deficit from delaying surgery, his surgeon (or another physician) should tell him that.

In this case, his surgeon expressed no urgency to operate, and it does sound like surgery is the last of several treatments that can be tried. I didn’t say surgery should be the last resort for every patient.